Education

After hearing Thursday from two parents whose children would be affected by a new out-of-county transfer policy, the Bedford County School Board changed course to allow almost two dozen students to attend county schools without having to pay tuition.

Sue Downs-Loyd and Annmarie Finnegan each spoke to the board about the negative impact the policy, as originally passed, had on their children.

The controversy surrounding the attempt to close Bedford Primary School during budget discussions earlier this year raised up a group of people passionate about what's going on in city and county government.

On Tuesday, that involvement got even deeper with two leaders of those who fought to keep BPS open being named as new members of the Bedford City School Board.

Children at Otter River Elementary School got a look at the car that won the Progressive Automotive X Prize.

Called Edison 2, the car can carry four people, accelerate to 100 mph and gets 129 miles per gallon on the highway. According to Bobby Mouzayck, the mechanic who accompanied it, the car’s secret is that it’s very light weight, achieved by a combination of steel, aluminum and carbon fiber material used for its construction, coupled with aerodynamic design.

How do you get, and keep, the attention of an entire elementary school full of children. One way is to arrive with a balloon.

That’s what Kevin and Amy Poeppleman did recently. The couple are hot air balloon pilots, Kevin Poeppleman has been a balloon pilot for REMAX for 30 years.
Their visit was arranged by Nadine Blakely, a REMAX agent in the Forest area. Blakely has had a child at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School since it first opened. Her youngest starts middle school in the fall.

Bedford County is seeking relief from federal regulations related to the No Child Left Behind act.

The School Board, at a meeting Thursday, unanimously approved a resolution asking for relief from the NCLB sanctions until a new law is authorized. The resolution was to be sent to the Secretary of Education as well as Virginia senators and local congressmen.

The students of the Staunton River High School Class of 2011 were reminded during the school’s 48th Commencement held Saturday at the Vines Center in Lynchburg that they were standing “on the edge of glory.”

Class President Bethany Layne Cheney told the close to 250 graduates to look to the future and “recognize the potential that we each possess.”

Liberty High School began a new tradition during its 47th Commencement held Saturday at the Vines Center in Lynchburg: Along with their diploma, each student received a rose to give to someone who had made a positive impact in their lives.
The 224 students of the Class of 2011 were urged by classmate Kasey Dean Bond to “believe in yourself and follow your dreams.”
“Make a difference,” Bond added.

According to Major William Brown, who heads the JROTC program at Bedford Science and Technology Center, he had an outstanding group of seniors this year. Maj. Brown mentioned this in closing remarks at the program’s annual awards dinner last week.

The awards dinner gives veteran and civic organizations a chance to honor cadets for performance during the past academic year.